Viich

Hi all.

I have a (not new) steel cyclocross frame (fairly nice one - True North Cycles) that I want to build up. Build for a bit of light trail riding, maybe some cyclocross racing, and double-duty as a road bike. I'm selling the road bike, as it's a little too small for me, and I never loved the frame anyway (old Specialized Allez)

It's not a disc compatible frame, which I'm fine with - though that knocks GRX out as an option. I want to stay 10 speed as I share a direct drive trainer with wife and kids, all bikes are 10sp, no plans to upgrade them all to 11sp.

What should I put on it for parts? I wanted to go Advent X, but can't find the drop bar shift levers anywhere.

I don't have my heart set on 1x or a clutch derailleur, just liked that one.

Options I've looked at:
Microshift M100 shifter with shimano MTB clutch derailleur, 11-42 rear. 1x, or 2x with a weird friction shift front105 5700 shifters, 9sp MTB derailleur, 2xBuy a new Tiagra 4700 group, 2xWhat gearing should I be looking at?

Anyone with other suggestions or that knows someplace with Advent X drop bar levers in stock, love some input.

Thanks!

caloso

We built up my kid’s CX bike with Tiagra. 44-34 double with a 12-27 cassette. Works great. Excellent bang for the buck. Especially since people are practically giving away 10-speed rim brake wheels.

Viich

So - a buddy I ride with on Zwift gave me a very strong recommendation for SRAM 1x, so I ordered a Rival shifter and GX 2.1 derailleur. It's supposed to arrive today, though I have my doubts. Let you know how it goes.

franswa

I have a similar setup, but mine is 2x with the GX 2.1 derailleur and it's been great!

msu2001la

I have SRAM 1x 11 Force on one of my CX bikes. It's a great groupset and works fantastic for CX racing, but that is a fairly specific use where dropped chains and mud buildup play a big role and make 1x a lot more appealing. 1x10 would probably work ok on a CX course, but for normal riding I think the gear jumps would be a little large and/or the range a bit too narrow.

I've actually debated converting my 1x Force to a 2x setup on that bike to make it more versatile outside of CX racing. I run a 42T 11-32 on that bike. My other 1x is a GRX setup currently with a 40T and 11-34. I prefer the 42T gearing because it gives me a little more top end.

Viich

Most of my riding is on an Sturmey Archer 3 speed and I do BMX racing - I've no problem with low or high cadences.

I actually still don't have a left brake lever / shifter ordered, as apparently Jenson are prohibited from shipping the left lever to Canada. (but not the right one?!?)- I could just go 2x, I have a couple of nice 2x cranks.

Barrettscv 

I would start with 2x10. I had a 1x10 drivetrain on my Soma Double Cross. I used an 11-32 cassette with a 44t chainring. It was good enough on flat routes but I found myself walking the steepest climbs and unable to pedal above 30 mph. I installed a 12-27 cassette with a 50/34 crankset and got a tighter range and a useful cogs for climbing and descending.

Moisture

I've got a pair of Tektro RL340R levers and hoods I can mail out if needed.

mechanicmatt

XT 10spd cassette 11-40 combined with a compact double up front 50-34, makes a nice wide range. You can use a 9spd Shimano long cage mtn derailleur like LX or XT with a 10spd Shimano road shifter and everything works beautifully.

Or maybe that's just what I did.

Viich

Nice build - I considered that, but the SRAM works nice together too, and I was having trouble finding decent stuff used, there's a few guys doing a lot of builds and selling them over the past year, buying up a lot of the used parts that come up. Then right after I ordered, a 9sp XTR rear derailleur came up..... oh well. I think I'll like the SRAM stuff too, nice to try something new, I've only ever used 1 kind of integrated shifter, shimano 105 5700.

Russ Roth

Go with the tiagra, do a 50/34 or a different crank with 48/32 which is what I have on my cross and I'm very happy with it. Then run an 11-34 which the tiagra medium cage will run. Can run a GRX rear der if you want an 11-36 which is as big as most cross bikes get. That 48-11 isn't exactly a road race gear but with a 90 cadence you're still doing 30 so the gearing can still be competitive unless there's long, steep descents. I was running exactly this on my gravel bike to good effect when I used it for cross while waiting for a new cross frame.

Viich

Thank you very much for the offer! I've got a pretty healthy parts bin myself though.

Viich

Thanks!
SRAM stuff should show up today. The tiagra I thought I was going to be able to get my hands on turned out to be a mirage anyway. Probably gets built up as a 1x to start, 2x if I can find myself a left hand shifter and I want the gearing. I like to tinker, every bike is a work in progress to me.

As far as a high gear, I'm pretty comfortable at 110-115 RPM for fairly long pulls, higher gear isn't a big concern for me.